Kupersmith was only 25 when this evocative and lush book of short stories was published. It’s not that I hadn’t accomplished anything at 25, but I certainly was not publishing. Good for her, is what I’m saying.

The Frangipani hotel is a magical collection of stories inspired by Vietnamese oral traditions, interwoven with modern-day sensibilities. Every story has a supernatural aspect, but you never feel like you are reading a fantasy or something that requires a suspension of disbelief. Her language is truly suggestive of the location and atmosphere of each story and I was transported within each one. This book receives a rating of 5 bowls of phở from me!